No need to bring food or beer as a visitor, you'll get plenty. And then you won't limit what your eating so you can sample a lot.
Surprised it took so many posts for Hickory Park to show up, and surprised it hasn't turned to a debate yet.
Tips for visiting fan to Ames
- Thread starter KeithJackson
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No need to bring food or beer as a visitor, you'll get plenty. And then you won't limit what your eating so you can sample a lot.
Surprised it took so many posts for Hickory Park to show up, and surprised it hasn't turned to a debate yet.
1. Fly into Des Moines (DSM). Southwest might be the best best for most people. From the Big 12 footprint you can get directs into DSM from DFW (American) and IAH (United).
2. Not really. A four-hour radius could open you up to flying into Omaha, Minneapolis, or Kansas City though if that's your thing. Definitely not a cool drive to Ames from any of those places but they each have their own attractions.
3. If flying into DSM, you'll want to rent a car to drive to Ames. If you get to Ames without one, though, you can probably get around without a rental car. Uber is in Ames. Also, CyRide is the public bus system that is far better than a city the size of Ames would typically have.
Hotels will fill up extremely fast in Ames. If you're flying into DSM or elsewhere and renting a car, you might want to consider a hotel in Ankeny (between Des Moines and Ames) if you started too late and can't find one in Ames, but those will fill fast as well. There aren't many options other than hotel rooms in the area.
Food inside the stadium isn't special. Ames has a pretty cool food culture, though. Hickory Park will be the first place that everyone mentions. It's an enormous barbecue restaurant and an Ames institution. There are lots of other good options around as well. Great Plains is a popular pizza spot. Aunt Maude's is the upscale joint. El Azteca for Mexican. The Cafe for classic food. Brick City Grill won an award as the best burger in Iowa a couple years ago. West Street Deli and Downtown Deli are both highly regarded.
Then of course there is the bar scene, centered around Welch Avenue just south of campus (a handful of blocks west of Jack Trice Stadium) if that is your thing. That will be a fun area for any visitors to check out before and after the game. Some late night dining options over there as well - Jeff's Pizza, Superdogs, and more.
Try the school ticket office first. Visitors section at Jack Trice is sections 15-16 on the lower level and sections H-J on the upper deck. StubHub wouldn't be a bad option either. Scalpers will be around the stadium before the game too.
Of course this is the part where Iowa State fans shine. Our tailgating is second to none. The parking lots surrounding Jack Trice Stadium (including some grass fields for overflow) will be filled with tailgaters for every game. Without a parking pass you can park in the public tailgating lots to the southeast of the stadium. Any fan of any team (maybe Iowa excluded) can show up and have a great time tailgating with ISU fans if they have a good attitude and bring some beer and/or food.
I would recommend just checking out the campus. Head to Central Campus, an area just north of our Memorial Union where our Campanile clock tower sits, and take it in. Iowa State, Virginia, and Yale are the only three universities to have won an award for the landscape architecture of our central campus areas. I also recommend this because there aren't a ton of pregame festivities that you should concern yourself with - it's pretty much just tailgate early and often and then head into the stadium just in time for kickoff.
There's more of this stuff in Des Moines, like Living History Farms, the Iowa capitol, the zoo. Reiman Gardens can be cool if you're into that sort of thing; it's in Ames right next to the football stadium.
I wouldn't consider one square inch of Ames to be unsafe and I imagine most visiting fans, especially those from bigger cities, will feel the same way. I guess if you are flying into Des Moines and choosing to stay there overnight you should be a little cautious of certain areas of the city (check what the hotel reviews say, what's near it, etc.) but the vast majority of DSM will be fine as well. ISU fans will welcome any visitors that don't act like d*****bags so I think 99% of people will easily enjoy their experience in Ames.
You will get varying opinions of Hickory Park, but it is the best known and probably the "Must Do" restaurant experience in Ames for a first time visitor. Don't let the huge crowd waiting put you off. They do a great job of moving people in and is worth the wait (IMHO).
Basically people are going to ask you if you ate there. Like going to NYC and not going to the Empire State Bldg - it's kind of expected.
Basically people are going to ask you if you ate there. Like going to NYC and not going to the Empire State Bldg - it's kind of expected.
Our campus generally gets ranked in "most beautiful campus" lists so check it out. The stadium isn't right on campus but it is an easy walk to central campus and worth it, especially on a fall day.
http://web.iastate.edu/about/scenes.php
https://www.google.com/search?q=iow...0ahUKEwiJzI3I3rHMAhWCPiYKHeA9A68QsAQIGw&dpr=1
Right south of the stadium is Reiman Gardens which is kind of cool to see for a few bucks.
http://www.reimangardens.com/
http://web.iastate.edu/about/scenes.php
https://www.google.com/search?q=iow...0ahUKEwiJzI3I3rHMAhWCPiYKHeA9A68QsAQIGw&dpr=1
Right south of the stadium is Reiman Gardens which is kind of cool to see for a few bucks.
http://www.reimangardens.com/
Be sure to return back and link your blog once you guys get it going. It would be interesting to see an outsider's perspective after hitting all of the Big 12 schools.
Totally forgot about West Street Deli. That sounds amazing right now.
Also I feel like I should be loyal to la fuente, but damn is El Azteca good.
Also I feel like I should be loyal to la fuente, but damn is El Azteca good.
If you're looking for a unique place to stay the Upper Floors of the Memorial Union are a hotel. Its older but neat if you're into that sort of thing. For those not used to it, the rooms facing the campanile may be annoying at night but I enjoy it. Its close to campus town and thus bars if you're of the younger fanfare.
Tailgating - The grass lot directly south of the stadium is often the unofficial student lot. Things can get lively in parts there. My family and I usually grab a spot there when we're back for a game. Overall though, you can tailgate anywhere and have a good time. You'll meet lots of people and probably be offered all kinds of ****** light beer and any number of items from the grill.
Tailgating - The grass lot directly south of the stadium is often the unofficial student lot. Things can get lively in parts there. My family and I usually grab a spot there when we're back for a game. Overall though, you can tailgate anywhere and have a good time. You'll meet lots of people and probably be offered all kinds of ****** light beer and any number of items from the grill.
Fly into Des Moines. Either take the shuttle to Ames our go downtown Des Moines and check out Court ave. My personal favorite bar is the Hessen House, imported beer ON TAP! Another popular place is 'El Bait Shop' or head across the river for some adult arcade at 'Up Down'.(good beer and wine)
For food Des Moines is awesome, but then so it's Ames. Zombie Burger in the east village is starting to become famous around the country via social media and it didn't disappoint. Otherwise I would be remiss to not mention Tasty Tacos. If you want fine dining check out Splash, the Chop House, or Cozi Cuchina.
Must do? TAILGATE. Best farm raised meat your gonna find ANYWHERE. You heard me Texas. You will literally offend people for not accepting beer and food so pig out like an Iowan!
For food Des Moines is awesome, but then so it's Ames. Zombie Burger in the east village is starting to become famous around the country via social media and it didn't disappoint. Otherwise I would be remiss to not mention Tasty Tacos. If you want fine dining check out Splash, the Chop House, or Cozi Cuchina.
Must do? TAILGATE. Best farm raised meat your gonna find ANYWHERE. You heard me Texas. You will literally offend people for not accepting beer and food so pig out like an Iowan!
The hotel is closing permanently this summer so it won't be available for football weekends in the future.
Flying in, probably need a rental car.
However, on the Uber issue, son is a student and while he has never used Uber in Ames, his friends do frequently, especially when they are going to the bars.
However, on the Uber issue, son is a student and while he has never used Uber in Ames, his friends do frequently, especially when they are going to the bars.
You may want to know the story of Jack Trice as well before you come:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BReCci-34J8
Food...As with others Hickory Park is a place I head to when I'm back in town. The bbq is good, but people from places where bbq is an art form they will probably be disappointed. The menu is bigger than the restaurant though and there is an excellent selection of much more than bbq. Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co. downtown is another of the places I have to go when home. Thanks to all the other comments on here I have a list of places to check out this coming season as well.
Tailgating...This is where Iowa State fans excel. It's like one giant backyard bbq with some great farm raised meat sizzling in every direction. Agreeing with another poster (since I live in Texas), farm raised meat from the midwest puts Texas beef to shame. If you're a visiting fan not wearing black and yellow you will be welcomed with food and drink, and if you happen to bring some yourself then you will be friends with our fans soon enough.
Traditions...Not much as far as traditions other than great tailgating, but once inside the stadium check out the memorial to Jack Trice.
Other Big 12 schools...I've been to all of them except West Virginia. I've found most to be pretty fun. Kansas State would have to be my favorite. They put on a pretty decent spread as far as tailgating. Texas seemed like all the fat cats in Austin came out so it was very "uppity" and had a corporate retreat type feeling the two times I was there. Oklahoma was a little disappointing, their fans weren't welcoming. If you weren't an OU fan you needed your own group. The worst that I've been around was Texas Tech. If you like having totillas, change and other things thrown at you, then by all means give them a try. I will say that the university finally got smart and moved the visitors sections away from the student sections, so it might be a little better now.
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Fly into Des Moines the morning before the game if possible. Wear your walking shoes and tour the campus on foot the afternoon before the game. These folks know I am NOT a Cyclone fan but still spend many enjoyable days bicycling the campus and enjoying the scenery.
Hickory Park is way overrated, and there are many other better restaurants in Ames.
There, I started it.
It's not gourmet bar b que, but their ice cream is AMAZING. For the price, it's awesome. Their beef ribs are the best I've ever had though.
EIU doesn't have a "campus" as such. Their get-togethers are in buildings spread out all over two or three towns, including Des Moines.
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